unpublished, May 16, 2004

Dear Editor,

800 Jackson Street, the latest high-rise proposal at the Hoboken-Jersey City border has resulted in an outcry throughout our communities. A coalition of Hoboken and Jersey City groups has strenuously objected to this project. Protesters picketed Hoboken City Hall on April 7 and on April 19 unveiled a 300 foot long black shroud at the top of the Palisades, representing the potential loss of views.

This public outcry over the development at 800 Jackson Street in Hoboken's Northwest Redevelopment Area is due to myriad problems. Elected officials have responded to one of these concerns. After negotiating with the developer, some of these officials announced this week that the height of the building would not rise above the top of the Palisades. Unfortunately, there are still a number of outstanding issues yet to be resolved, as follows:

1) This project will have a devastating impact, even at a reduced building height, on the new light rail station. The new 9th Street Light Rail stop will be hidden behind this building with its rear wall just ten feet from the station platform. As a result, commuters will be isolated between a parking garage at the base of the building and the Palisades cliffs. On May 4, the Executive Director of New Jersey Transit, George Warrington, expressed his concerns about security at the 9th Street station in a strongly worded letter to Mayor Roberts. Unfortunately, our elected officials have not carefully weighed Mr. Warrington's concerns.

2) The revised project still flies in the face of Hoboken's new Master Plan which recommends that this land be preserved as public open space. By building on this site, a terrible precedent will be set and the other Master Plan recommendations for open space are likely to be ignored site by site as City officials continue to cut deals with politically favored developers.

3) Despite the proposed new height of the project, Hoboken's view of the Palisades would be entirely blocked for about a 300 foot length. The Palisades is an important natural landmark that defines Hoboken's western border. The revised project also fails to conform to height limitations set by Jersey City's steep slope ordinance and a resolution recently passed by the Jersey City Municipal Council.

Our respective groups have considered the new proposal and have found it sorely lacking. We ask our elected officials to reconsider. And we ask our public officials, rather than simply trying to renegotiate with the developer, to engage in an open dialogue with members of the community to arrive at an acceptable solution for this critical block.

Fund for a Better Waterfront, Hudson County Alliance, People for Open Government, Residents for Responsible Development, Riverview Neighborhood Association & Quality of Life Coalition